Film fest set

The Yorkton Film Festival celebrates its 65th anniversary this week in the city.

North America's longest running film festival kicks-off Thursday with a day devoted to students of film.

Presented by the National Film Board of Canada, it is a full day workshops for high school emerging filmmakers being held at Sacred Heart High School.

The Opening Night Reception, Presented by the Painted Hand Casino, will be held at the PHC starting at 5:30, with 'Yorkton Goes to the Oscars' going at 6:30.

It will be a night screening of YFF films which have gone on to be nominated for, or won, Academy Awards.

The first ever Jamie Awards Ceremony also goes Thursday evening. The festival celebrates the community by recognizing great groups and individuals with an awards ceremony.

Friday and Saturday will highlight film screenings for the public as well as numerous workshops on interest to the industry.

The workshops include; Digital Production: The New Art and Entertainment Forms of the Future.

"The digital revolution has provided producers, filmmakers and creators new platforms and new ways of engaging with audiences with classical film forms whether drama, documentary or animation. In particular, it has been a boon for creators of short works. But the impact goes much deeper; digital technologies change the nature of creating works. In the same way that radio, the movies, television developed their unique aesthetics and language of creation so digital is in the process of doing the same and it is radically different from the modes of creation we have been used to. I am going to explore the fundamentals of these new art and entertainment forms of the future and what distinguishes them from traditional audio-visual works. With: Tom Perlmutter, Film Commissioner and Chair of the National Film Board," detailed the YFF website.

The Master Class: Socially Responsible Media workshop goes Thursday as well.

"Peter Raymont leads a master class examining social media and responsibility. Social issue media initiatives are on the rise and every day, activists are taking the cause into their own hands. This session will delve into and celebrate the filmmakers, producers and networks working to effect social change through their programming. What are the foundations of a social cause campaign? How do you engage partners and stakeholders?" stated the YFF website.

Yorkton This Week sponsors the 65 Years of Film Room. Patrons are encouraged to come out and see some of the history behind North America's longest running film festival at the Gallagher Centre, BMO Sports Lounge.

A Saturday workshop of note looks at the 'Brave New World' of film.

"Big changes are taking place in funding, distribution, technology, broadcast ownership and content consumption all of which have combined to create a very uncertain environment for members of Canada's production industry. Join Richard Gustin and panelists Valerie Creighton (CMF), Tom Perlmutter (NFB), John Gill (NSI) and Mark Bishop (MarbleMedia) for a freewheeling discussion which will try to get a sense of what the next few years might hold in store for screen based media practitioners in Canada."

And then Saturday evening at the Gallagher Centre Jeff Douglas, host of As It Happens on CBC Radio, hosts the Golden Sheaf Awards, emblematic of the best in Canadian short film entered in the annual festival.

For a complete schedule of Festival events check http://www.goldensheafawards.com/